Galatians 4 Commentary
The first section explains Jesus’ strange instruction to his disciples. “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.” Matthew 10 verses 5 and 6. Or His strange response to a Canaanite woman. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Matthew 15 verse 24.
When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law.
Jesus’ earthly ministry consisted of two sections or phases. The first phase was specifically for Israel. The second phase included the Gentiles – the nations. Everyone and everyone else, both Israel and the Gentiles, under the same formula. Paul calls it the Spirit formula.
In Phase 1, Jesus is walking in person among His own people, the Israelites. In phase 2, He is walking among everyone else (Israelites and the nations) by His Spirit. Verse 6. It is the same Jesus. The Spirit, the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of God is actually the Spirit of Jesus. He is still at work and we are still under phase 2.
Receiving the Spirit in your life is actually receiving Jesus. It is the same thing! He is the Servant of Isaiah, Immanuel, or the Son born to us with the government on His shoulders. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
Put all these pieces together, and you choke at the magnitude of the blessing that the Spirit brings. You easily understand Paul’s utter frustration with the Galatians. How can they ever get to think of anything else? Foolish Galatians… The apostle is lost for words!
Because you are sons (by adoption), you also receive the Spirit. Actually, the Spirit is the mark of sonship. No longer slaves! How can they miss this incredible truth!
Long before the Law was introduced, God’s promise to Abraham was to bless the nations through Abraham’s seed. It wasn’t Isaac; less still Jacob! The promise remained until Jesus came on the scene. But between Abraham and Jesus, there are all sorts of things, including the law. Even the Patriarch Abraham flirted with Ishmael’s situation – a human arrangement that received an emphatic no from the LORD.
Yes, there are two contracts called Testaments. But in reality, the perfection of God is such that there is never a need for a second Board meeting. The first resolution takes care of everything! Sarah and Hagar represent the two covenants. We can see the two covenants from the beginning!
Ishmael is born under natural conditions. Isaac, on the other hand, is born by the power of the Spirit. Verse 29. You can see the Spirit at work even in the Old Testament, long before the Law was introduced. This is the Spirit of Jesus. Or, Jesus (in spirit form) as the Spirit, brings about a life from a dead situation – an impossible situation.
The projection is that the Spirit (Jesus) gives us life from our dead positions. It means freedom from death, the strongholds, or the impossible situations. We are free! Free to live the Jesus (Spirit) life!
Looking at it from the beauties of the Old Testament, the Spirit life is impossibly beautiful! Amazingly wonderful! It is all freedom – freedom to live as Jesus demands! But it is all love, joy, peace… It is a total package! God’s grand plan in motion!
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